A blog initially intended as a place for childhood friends to share family recipes.. ending up as a major unleashed therapy for one of those friends living abroad..but in a good way..

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Papa's Indian Lentils

This is something I grew up eating. I was blessed with 2 parents that each cook extraordinarily from 2 different cultures. Lucky me!
This seems like a lot of effort, but it really isn't! If your spice rack is full, you probably have most of these ingredients on hand. I always keep a piece of ginger root in my freezer too. As well as being a crowd pleaser, its cheap (if you already have the spices) because a bag of lentils is usually around $1, and this makes 6 hearty servings that are heart healthy, and have plenty of protien.

Directions:
1. Soak the lentils overnight in 6 cups of water (I always skip this step because I'm lazy and I haven't found it useful)
2. Drain/rinse lentils. Place them in a slow cooker (crock pot) add 6 cups of water or half the pot. Set the cooking temperature to low and let it cook all day or 8 hours.
or

Cook your split peas or lentils in 6 cups water on stove bringing to a boil and then simmering on low heat until tender (about 20 minutes)

3. Add yogurt, ginger, salt and stir it thoroughly.
4. In a separate small pan high heat oil and add cumin and mustard seeds and wait until it crackles. You know when the oil is hot enough if you throw 1 cumin seed and it cracks. This is the tricky step, because if the oil is too hot, your mustard seeds will start popping like popcorn, so wear an apron, or have a lid for a shield.. and tell your kids to leave the kitchen.
5. Add garlic, chili powder, cinammon, and turmeric, wait for 30 seconds on high heat and then pour everything on lentils.
6. Stir it thoroughly, serve over rice, garnish with green onions, cilantro and lime.

Eric likes his on a plate. I like mine in a bowl.. kind of like chili =)